Gatlinburg, TN -- August 20, 2026: Specialized rescue personnel from western North Carolina have crossed state lines to bolster the search for Marcin Bachleda-Blaszczak, an Illinois man missing inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Bachleda-Blaszczak was reported missing to park dispatch on the evening of August 24. Rangers later located his vehicle parked at the Sugarlands Visitor Center in the park's North District, identifying the lot as his last known location on August 22.
To support the expanding operation through steep and difficult backcountry terrain, North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) activated and deployed four of the state’s Mountain Rescue Teams alongside an NCEM Area Coordinator. Additional regional support includes Cherokee County Emergency Services (CCEMS) and emergency management personnel from across western North Carolina counties, reinforcing that "NC is always ready to assist our neighbors."
Ground crews, canine units, and technical rescue specialists are continuing both trail-based and off-trail sweeps extending outward from the Sugarlands corridor.
Incident Summary & Description
Name: Marcin Bachleda-Blaszczak
Age/Origin: Illinois resident
Physical Description: 5'6" tall, approximately 170 lbs, brown hair, blue eyes
Last Known Sighting: Sugarlands Visitor Center parking lot (August 22)
Date Reported Missing: August 24
Deployments: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Rangers, 4 NC State Mountain Rescue Teams, NCEM Area Coordinator, Cherokee County Emergency Services (CCEMS), and WNC county emergency managers
Park Dispatch Email:grsm_dispatch@nps.go
